Confident Group owner C.J. Roy dies by suicide during income tax raid
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Bengaluru: C.J. Roy (57), owner of the leading real estate firm Confident Group, died by suicide on Friday during an income tax raid at the company’s headquarters in Bengaluru.
Roy shot himself with his licensed firearm while officials from the Income Tax Department were conducting an inspection at his office in Langford Town. He was a native of Kochi.
The suicide reportedly occurred amid an investigation by central agencies into allegations of tax evasion. His body was shifted to Narayana Hospital in HSR Layout. Sources indicated that Roy suffered a mental breakdown following continuous raids at his offices and residences.
The Bengaluru-based Confident Group, led by Roy, is a major real estate company in South India, with operations spanning Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, as well as overseas. In addition to real estate and construction, the group has significant interests in film production, sports, aviation, and hospitality, including large hotels and resorts.
The income tax inspection was carried out by a team from Kochi in connection with tax evasion. The raid began on Friday morning, and Roy was summoned to the office in the afternoon, where he was questioned for about an hour. After proceeding to another office room to collect documents, he shot himself in the chest with his own revolver.
Earlier, Confident Group had approached a Bengaluru court and obtained a stay on the raid, arguing that the Income Tax Department team from Kerala did not have the authority to conduct inspections in Bengaluru. However, the inspection was carried out after the stay was recently lifted.
C.J. Roy is survived by his wife, Lini, and children, Rohit and Riya.
Known for his fondness for luxury cars, Roy reportedly owned around 200 vehicles, including 12 Rolls-Royce cars.
The death of the prominent businessman has sent shockwaves through Kerala’s business community.
